Welcome to the ASC History Office

Behind every operation are stories worth telling. At U.S. Army Sustainment Command, the Public and Congressional Affairs office ensure stories are both told and preserved. PCA, which includes Public Affairs, Congressional Affairs and History, play a vital role in shaping how ASC communicates its purpose and remembers its journey.

The interwar period was defined by dramatic technological advancements and drastic military drawdowns. Hyperinflation gripped the global economy and led to significant budget cuts within the Army. In addition, public fear of maintaining a large standing Army persisted (though that sentiment was gradually fading). Even with a reduced force, the Army struggled to sustain itself in the face of the Great Depression, yet it persevered.

Imagine driving down highway 95 in southwestern Arizona. It’s sunset, not quite twilight yet, but you can see that night is quickly approaching. You’ve just passed a sign saying, “Yuma Proving Ground.” You’re near one of the most isolated military installations in the continental United States. You come up on Imperial Dam Road and taking it would take you head-first into the military installation. On the side of the road, you’re greeted with a “big” atomic cannon. You take a moment to marvel at this atomic marvel before driving north. Suddenly, you notice a large white barrel off to your right. It’s a cannon, something that looks like it’s from a video game, much larger than the one you just passed. What on earth could this be for? Is this for asteroids?

Three conflicts from 1846 to 1898 encapsulate the rapid innovations in the Army’s ability to project power. The Mexican-American War (1846-48) tested the Army’s ability to project power into foreign territory while ensuring that it was supplied, trained, and manned. The American Civil War (1861-65) tested the Union Army in projecting its force deep into enemy territory while engaging in conflicts on two fronts. The Spanish-American War (1898) was the next greatest test for the American Army, adding the dimension of oceans and fighting in battles half-way around the world. When we think of the Army’s ability to project its power today, however, it is the Spanish-American War that stands out.

For 250 years, the US Army has adapted as a living organization composed of operating units and institutional organizations that generate combat power. Institutional strategy, the mechanism by which senior Army leaders guide the department over the long term, establishes policy and prioritization for resourcing and gives coherence to the Department of the Army’s purpose—to provide trained and ready forces for employment.

As with most major events in history, the start of the American Revolution can be traced back years before the shooting conflict began. In addition to the commonly discussed causes — such as taxes on commodities and lack of representation — there were deeper reasons and influences. One of the greatest influences on the British colonists’ thoughts and passions was the Enlightenment. This intellectual movement, which found its origins in the development of science and art, challenged the authority of established religion and monarchial regimes, which had long held power over laws and political decisions that affected society.

The year was 1966, and for several years the Soldiers in Vietnam had been using the same howitzer that their fathers had used in World War II. The M101 (known in World War II as the M2) was a 105-mm howitzer that was known for its accuracy and destructive power. So, why, in the middle of a war in the jungle, was the Army changing these well-known and tried-and-true fire breathing monsters with a lighter M102?

When thinking about the Vietnam War, what comes to mind? Perhaps it is the sights and smells of napalm or the harrowing scenes in magazines or newspapers. Maybe it is watching the fall of Saigon unfold in dramatic fashion on TV or the massive anti-war protests in the United States. These are all scenes of the same war, but for others the thought travels to sounds. Specifically, the sounds of helicopters.

The 946-acre island in the middle of the Mississippi River is home to many sights and scenes that tell the story of the Army’s resilience, sustainability and manufacturing power. Perhaps one of the most notable of these is the gun display at Memorial Field here, but few guns on display capture as much awe as the M65 Atomic Cannon on display. On April 18, ASC historians had the honor of hosting Marine Pfc. Bill Wieberg (1956 – 1958), a machine gunner, who was stationed on Okinawa following the Korean War.

Many people at Rock Island Arsenal are familiar with the Confederate Prison Barracks that existed here during the Civil War. But far fewer know about the role of Italian prisoners of war who lived and worked on RIA during World War II.